Chapter Seven

“We need to move everything possible to the second floor,” the Harvey House manager declared. “The tables and chairs, the dishes, whatever equipment we can move, and of course all the linens and food. Once that’s done, I want everyone on the train north.”

Gretchen organized her girls in a line so that no one had to make numerous trips up the steps. The men brought things to the stairs, and the girls moved them along in assembly-line fashion until the downstairs was empty of everything but the heavy stoves, iceboxes, and freezers. It was amazing the strength the girls had when pressed to perform. Gretchen was very proud of each one and told them so.

An hour earlier, Gretchen had put Katiann to bed in her own room. That room was now stacked to the ceiling with food and glassware, but they were able to leave the bed free. The sweet girl had helped all evening until even Gretchen could see she was asleep on her feet.

One of the men decided it would be best to board up the windows and even the doors in hopes of keeping out the floodwaters. They had the benefit of not being built right on the ground, as so many of the residences and businesses were, but already water was starting to pool on the main floor.

“What’s the word on the river?” Gretchen heard the house manager ask the sheriff as he passed by.

“It’s out of the banks to the north. We need to get everybody out of here and on the train, or at least up to high ground. They’ve set up some tents, and folks are offering shelter to those in need up at San Geronimo. There are several wagons transporting people up. You should get the ladies up there if they’re determined to stay in the area. The men we need to help with sandbagging.”

The house manager nodded. “We’ll see to it right away.” He turned to Gretchen. “Tell the girls to get out on the train. Tell them to hurry. If they don’t want to leave, send them up to San Geronimo. Then get up there yourself after you’re sure everyone else is out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gretchen had barely reached the steps, however, when one of the men who’d been boarding the windows rushed inside. “The levee gave way. It’s too late! The town’s flooding.”

“Everyone to the second floor,” the house manager declared.

Gretchen could hear a horrible rumble outside. Was that the river? She hurried upstairs just as several other girls were starting down with their belongings. She waved them back. “The levee broke.” She could see the terror in their eyes.

The house manager appeared behind her. “It’s too late to leave. There’s a heavy current out there, and I’m afraid it would pull us under. Back up so the men can get up here too.”

The look of horror on each woman’s face left Gretchen little doubt that they were just as fearful as she was. She made her way to each room to announce what had happened. Everyone hurried to the windows to see out into the darkness. The streetlamps revealed water steadily rising.

“How deep will it get?” one of the girls whispered.

“I’ve seen it flood as high as the porch overhang,” one of the men muttered.

A shiver went up Gretchen’s spine. The porch overhang was at least ten feet off the ground.

Gretchen went to her room, where Katiann slept, oblivious to the disaster. She stroked the child’s dark curls and whispered a prayer for their safety.

Out in the streets, debris began crashing against the Harvey House, filling the air with booms and the sound of splintering wood. Gretchen had endured other floods in San Marcial when she was a girl. It had always been terrifying when the river turned from friend to foe. At least they usually had plenty of warning. These rains had come in a deceptive manner, and with the government’s promises that the new dam and levees would prevent flooding, people had relaxed their guard. Now they would once again pay the price for living on the river’s edge.

With Katiann sleeping comfortably, Gretchen went to soothe those Harvey Girls who’d never experienced anything so frightening. Several of them huddled in one room, weeping.

“Come now, ladies, it’s not the end of the world.” She smiled. “I used to live here, and the river flooded often. We just have to wait it out. The worst should be known by morning.”

“Will it tear the building apart?” a petite blonde asked.

“I doubt it. The men reinforced what they could, and the Harvey House was built well. I think we’ll be just fine.” They seemed to relax a bit. “Now, don’t forget we still have some guests here. We’ll want to figure out a way to offer breakfast of some sort when daylight comes. Why don’t you find Cook and see what he recommends?” She knew the cook would already have a plan in mind for feeding those gathered in the Harvey House.

“I remember my grandfather talking about a bad flood here years ago. Some men were working at the shops and got swept away. What if that happens tonight?” one of the girls asked. “I have a beau working there.”

Gretchen’s thoughts immediately went to Dirk. What if he were swept away? What if he died? What would happen to Katiann? Gretchen knew if the worst did happen, she wouldn’t let Katiann out of her sight. She would do whatever was necessary to take the girl as her own.

I’ve got to stop thinking about the worst. It does nobody any good if I sit here supposing the future.

Gretchen curled up beside Katiann. She had to smile when the child nestled in close and gave a sigh. No matter what, she wanted to be this girl’s mother and she wanted to be Dirk’s wife. She whispered a prayer that somehow God would do whatever needed to be done to make that happen.

Dirk found himself praying that Gretchen and Katiann had made it to safety. He knew Gretchen was obligated to help with the Harvey House until the last minute, but he felt confident she would keep Katiann safe. Earlier in the evening, the railroad had train cars, both freight and passenger, waiting to get people and supplies out of the flood zone. As soon as a train came in, the engine was turned in the roundhouse, attached to the loaded cars, and sent back out again. As long as possible, the railroad men had worked to do what they could to get people and equipment evacuated. The huge machinery of the roundhouse and shops, millions of dollars of equipment needed for everyday production, would be lost to the river’s havoc. Many floods over the decades had settled several feet of silt in the town’s buildings, and the shops had been no exception. It discouraged many a man to realize just how bad it was going to get before it got better.

One of the railroad men came toward them at a run. “We’re clearing out of here, boys. The bridge collapsed at San Acacia, and the levee just broke. The water is rising too fast. Last train is pulling north as we speak. I suggest you get yourselves on it or at least make a mad dash for the hills.”

“Have they got the Harvey House people up to San Geronimo?” Dirk asked.

“I guess so,” the man replied. “I haven’t had time to check on them. I had some of the secretaries load up the office papers earlier this evening, and the Harvey House was still lit up and folks were working there. I know some of the girls were on an earlier train out of here.”

Dirk nodded. Folks were doing well to keep track of their own responsibilities, much less other people’s.

“You’d be wise to finish up here and get to higher ground. We’re already up to three feet, and the current is strong. It’s going to get much higher. Don’t be fooled.”

“I won’t be.” Dirk glanced toward the door. He knew Gretchen was a wise person, but whether she had the ability to leave was another matter entirely. If she thought she could escape and get Katiann to safety, she would do it. If not, she wouldn’t risk it.

The loud crash of something smashing against the building caused silence to fall across the room.

“Let’s go!”

Everyone scrambled for the side of the building farthest from the river, where they hoped the water would be easier to manage. It wasn’t by much. Dirk and the other men formed a line and handed a rope down.

“Hold on tight, fellas. We’ll see each other through.”

They stepped into the rapidly rising water. It immediately came up to Dirk’s hip. The men inched their way through the water, fighting the constant attempts to pull them off their feet.

“Watch out!” one of the men ahead of Dirk called. “There’s some debris coming our way.”

In the darkness it was difficult to make out what the debris was at first, but as it came upon them, it became clear it was a wagon bed. The men in front of Dirk pulled forward and raised the rope high, while Dirk and those behind pulled back. The wagon passed through without entangling them.

“Move out and pick up the pace, otherwise we might not get out of here alive.”

That was all the incentive they needed. By the time they reached the cemetery in Old Town, the water was less volatile and not nearly so deep. They coiled the rope and made their way on their own. Dirk wished someone had thought to bring a lantern, as there were no streetlamps here. They finally managed to find the road to San Geronimo by using landmarks, and as they climbed the hillside, the water was less and less a threat. Down below, however, the eerie glow of the remaining few streetlamps glistened off the newly expanded Rio Grande. It now engulfed the entire town.

The second floor of the Harvey House was brightly lit, and from the shadows, it was clear there were still people inside.

“Dear Lord,” he murmured, feeling suddenly sick. They hadn’t all gotten out.